"A party, you say? Well, there is an awfully large amount of affairs that I must attend to, so please, summarize the invitation.

Big Ben scratched his head. summarize the invitation? That didn't make much sense.

"Now that would spoil the surprise, wouldn't you think?"

He stared at the little man for a second, squinting as if the man was so small he could barely see him.

"What do you mean by awfully large?! You've wasted enough of our time, off with ye!"

At that, the bandits who surrounded them closed in, and slowly made way for Kayben, some stone faced, others jeering or snickering. Big Ben turned around and began to leave, his Escort in tow. As he was lumbering away, he suddenly looked over his shoulder.

"Someone make sure our guest finds his way home safely, these be dangerous woods."

The smallest of the bandits, dressed in a green-gray camouflage stopped and turned around. If Kayben were to look straight at him the last thing he would see are his beady eyes. Then he vanished. Most like to the top of one of the trees, or behind a bush, or was he still standing right where he was, standing so still his surroundings blended into him? Either way, the "kid" would attempt to follow him until he was within sight of the Inn again.

Katusa picked up his rapier and retrieved his dagger from the mans throat. Looking around he could see the few remaining bandits running into the forest. He sheathed his weapons and walked over to were a giant stood talking to a girl wearing a blood stained shirt. Inside he was furious with himself. He should have checked to see if anyone needed protecting before the battle had started. Now who knows what pain this girl would have to go through because of what had been done here today.

"It'll be alright, the shock will pass" The Gigantic man said to her. "It's not easy killing for the first time, and one of your own kind too, I'd say after this mess is cleaned up you leave with this caravan. No sense staying around where the memories of dead will haunt you."

Katusa nodded, what the man said made sense. "I am sorry ma'am. I have failed in my duties as a protector. I lost myself in the battle and thought only of myself instead of protecting you and any of the other people with this establishment." Katusa couldn't help being reminded of when his village had been destroyed when he was a child. The only reason he had become who he was now was because of that moment. Maybe some of the people here today would be sent on a similar path. He had to become stronger. If he was to protect everyone he had to become the best. Today was a failure for him but he would improve. It was at that moment that Katusa decided to enter the tournament.

Rendahl woke up with a splitting headache and let out a curse. Looking around he could see some wounded men all over the inns common room. Damn he must have missed a bandit raid or something. This shouldn't have happened. Rendahl was going to have to have a talk with Big Ben. Stupid fool shouldn't have stepped into his turf. Injuries and pounding headache or not, for people in Rendahls position you had to retaliate fast if someone stepped into your area. He couldn't afford to show any weakness. Forcing his way up from the bench, he got a cup of water and downed it. He dropped the cup on the counter and headed outside. There was a small servants exit out the back of the Inn that he took, not wanting to be noticed.

Outside he saw a fairly large man man with long golden hair and fair colored skin. He was holding glowing hand over a wound on his flesh, and his skin seemed to faintly darken. Rendahl watched in amazement as the man pulled his hands away and the wound was completely healed. This was exactly what he needed. "You, I would be greatly in your debt if you would heal these two wounds. The names Rendahl." He said to the man hoping the price wasn't to high but he new that he would pay almost any price.

This wasn't the kind of fight Munashii was interested in. It was much too messy, something was different with him. Leaving opponents alive but wounded was one thing, but not fully being aware of himself in a battle? That wasn't safe. That was exactly how he got wounded in the first place. He needed more discipline. Because of this, he was considering not joining the tournament. He would still go to the tourney grounds, however. Watching opponents fight was the easiest way to realize their weaknesses, pick up their skills, and know what you're up against if you are to fight them in the near future. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he didn't want to participate. Fighting in the tourney was the easiest way to let your enemies know your skills and weaknesses...

By the time he found someone willing to take the arrows out of his back, most of the cleaning up was already done. It was time to rid himself of these wounds. He was going to go off into the forest to meditate and clear most of his more serious injuries, but his eye couldn't wait. If he didn't at least heal it a little sooner rather than later, it could cost him more energy. He placed a hand over it, in hopes no one would see it getting stitched back together. He didn't like people staring. A faint amount of light was transferred from his body into his right hand, which then transferred into the cut above his eye. In a matter of moments, it was healed. Now to lick my wounds in the forest. Just then a man hobbled over to him.

"You, I would be greatly in your debt if you would heal these two wounds. The names Rendahl."

Munashii Grimaced. This was the kind of attention he didn't want.

"No debt is necessary, let's just get this over with somewhere else."

He never liked healing others, it took up too much light. However, generally people were more subtle or tried talking around the subject. Munashii found this bluntness enjoyable to a degree.

(OOC: Thanks for NPCing Aruna, all. I'm back now!)

"It'll be alright, the shock will pass" the blonde man told Aruna. He continued speaking to her, obviously somewhat unpracticed with comforting damsels in distress. She ignored him, trying to steady her breathing and ignore the aroma of blood pervading the air. She didn't feel quite in her right mind, and even though the kindly giant of a man had cleaned the blood off her skin, she felt she might let loose her “demon” at any moment and wantonly launch herself at him. She barely noticed as another man approached and began speaking to her.

"I am sorry ma'am. I have failed in my duties as a protector. I lost myself in the battle and thought only of myself instead of protecting you and any of the other people with this establishment."

The guilt in the man's voice forced her to come back to herself somewhat, and she took a deep breath, looking up at him. He seemed deep in thought, and she looked over at the barbarian, who was still watching her like he was unsure whether to comfort her like a baby, or cage her like a crazed animal. Unable to think of how to even begin explaining what had happened or why she was so upset, Aruna merely took another deep breathe and stood, unsteadily. She caught at the barn wall to steady hersef, and looked at the barbarian. “Thank you,” she said, simply. She looked him over once, but he seemed to have dealt adequately with his injuries. She looked over at the other man [Katusa]. “Are you hurt?” she asked. She figured focusing on healing others might help her to quell the bloodthirst within her. At the very least, it would make her less conspicuous.

As she waited for the man to answer, she heard Rendahl's voice coming from outside the barn. She heard the inn door swing shut behind him as he addressed someone outside [Munashii]. He sounded fine, and Aruna breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't been around to see what she had done. Surely, the man was already suspicious enough of her without watching her bite someone's face off. She absently checked her palm, making sure the charm necklace was still there. It was. She clenched her fist over it tightly, determined never to be deprived of it again.

The woman looked over at Katusa and asked, "Are you hurt?" She looked almost desperate to help.

Feeling slightly guilty for not being hurt he said, "I was fortunate enough to escape from the fight unscathed. However, there are a lot of fellow comrades inside that I'm sure could use some help. Especially from such a pretty woman. You might want to clean yourself up first however." Seeing a bale of hay, he sat down and began checking his weapons. Looking around he could see the bodies left from the fight on the ground and sighed. They couldn't be left here and digging a grave would be to tedious a task. A funeral pyre would have to do. "Hey big guy, think you can give me a hand gathering wood for a funeral pyre? After you get patched up that is."

The man grimaced and said, "No debt is necessary, let's just get this over with somewhere else." Guess he didn't like attracting attention. Probably why he was behind the Inn. Nodding Rendahl followed him into the woods. As he walked he started to worry about Ena. He hoped she was alright. He let out a string of curses in his mind, I really am beginning to care for her. He was afraid of this. Caring had never been a good thing in his business.

"Well, I know you aren't asking a price for this healing, but I promise you, I will return the favor someday if I ever get the chance. Not healing mind you, I have no skill or talent in that area." Rendahl told the man. "This should be far enough in, I doubt anyone but us will notice here." As soon as he got stitched up he was going to have a talk with Big Ben.

As he ripped his dagger out of the bandit's spine, he smiled. Kura had completed another contract. In the bushes, he heard clapping.
"Well done, assassin." A man appeared out of the bushes a moment later.
Kura just game him a flat stare. The man who gave him the contract was staring at the fallen bandits. "Interesting technique you used there." The man raised an eyebrow, then threw Kura a bag.
Kura caught it. He could not resist finding out what it was. He opened the bag, then he raised a confused eyebrow. A puppy was lying in there, though it wasn't any ordinary puppy.
Kura went to look at the man, but he vanished.
"Well, it looks like it's just you and me my friend."
Kura grabbed the puppy, held it in his arms and started walking. What have I got myself into he wondered.

As Kura was walking, his stomach was growling with hunger. So did the puppy's.
"Time to get something to eat, my friend."
The puppy's stomach rumbled as if to reply. Kura walked past a village nearby, and decided to see if he could get something there.
The place looked small on the outside, but when Kura entered, it seemed to grow. Children were playing, men were drinking, women were washing clothes in the stream. This village seemed busy. Kura walked up to a nearby stand. He asked for some food, handed the keeper some money and left. Leaving, he noticed something. A group of soldiers were approaching. Oh right, these guys.
Kura remembered that he had a bounty on him. He held the puppy tight, sprang up on a tree branch, then watched the guards approach the village.
Do they have a trail on me, or are they just lucky.
Kura then jumped from one tree to another, using the momentum to carry him on. He hurried his pace foward.
Kura found a hollow tree, then rested there until the guard passed. Did I have to get myself into this?

Munashii was trailing off into the bushes absentmindedly. He had lost control before, but not in this manner. Something was wrong, and he knew it. Was he interested in finding out more about the girl, or not? The truth sometimes isn't what people want to hear. He would have to meditate on this at another time, though.

"This should be far enough in, I doubt anyone but us will notice here."

He came back into the present. He was becoming less aware of his surroundings than he thought. This was becoming a bad habit. He turned towards Rendahl.

"Alright, take off your bindings, any stitches can stay."

He had a look at the wounds. These may be costly.

"If you pass out, would you like me to bring you to the inn? Which reminds me, there is a cost. It's a portion of the energy required to heal naturally over time, but all at once. You may feel drowsy, or pass out after the healing is complete. Still interested?"

If the man obliged, Munashii would find the light within himself, and pour it into his hands. If one were to look at his hands, they may find themselves blinded by the extreme amount of light emanating from them. The light would begin to waft over to Rendahls wounds, and out of Munashii's skin. His skin would begin to stitch itself together. By the time Munashii was done, his skin would be tan, his hair black. The kind of wound Rendahl had taken could have been poisoned, which was why it seemed to react negatively to healing, or the severity of the wounds even though they weren't very large. Either way, it would have been near completely healed by the time Munashii was done, what left only being superficial cuts. Those would heal over time naturally.

"We best get back to the Inn."

Munashii huffed, breathless. He would then check to see if Rendahl was conscious or able to make the trek back by himself.

"That's a good idea friends." Jaknir said to katusa. "And my wounds will be fine, arrows were'nt much bigger than a pine needle, eh? The name's Jaknir" Jaknir stood up looking at Aruna "you'll be inside the inn then girl, I'll be around if you need anything" Jaknir patted her on the back awkwardly, probably a bit to hard because it caused her to step forward catching herself. "Let's get to it then" Jaknir headed off into the woods.

It didn't take long for Katusa and Jaknir to gather a nice pile of wood. Most of the work could be attributed to Jaknir and his sword felling medium sized tree's with one swing and Jaknir being able to haul a load that a horse could carry. The gaurds and other caravan travellers had been busy gathering the bodies and it didn't take long to build the pyre itself. Standing back and admiring their work Jaknir folded his arms.

"It will be good for these mens spirits." Jaknir said to Katusa, but also talking to noone in particular. "No matter a warriors choice of morals they still died in the glory of combat and the ancestors honor this." Jaknir slammed his sword into the ground so it stood on his own. Kneeling infront of it he started speaking in his native tounge, almost chanting.

Aruna smiled politely at the big man when he introduced himself. “Ena,” she replied with an ease born of practice. She was getting used to lying. He slapped her on the back in a friendly fashion, and she had to step quickly to avoid sprawling in the dirt, but she merely nodded at him and the other man and obediently made her way back to the inn.

When she entered the inn, a morbid sight greeted her. Injured men and boys lay sprawled all over the main room in various states of urgency, and Grillian and Rhia and a handful of others who had escaped the fray were tending to them. Rhia looked up as Aruna walked in, and immediately stood, walking over to her.

“Oh, Ena! Thank goodness you're alright!” the woman exclaimed, tackling Aruna in a sudden hug before the girl knew what was going on. She tentatively patted the barmaid on the back, and Rhia released her a moment later. “I was so worried when I couldn't find you in the inn--is that blood?” Rhia examined her shirt. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” Aruna said quickly. “I was... helping someone, outside.”

“Well, then good,” the other woman said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Because we can use as many helping hands as we can get. These men are all injured in one fashion or another, and neither Grillian nor I are half the healer you are.”

Aruna ducked her head at the compliment, but she did not smile. She couldn't. Rhia had no idea just how much more effective she apparently was at killing than at healing. She merely prayed that Jaknir would have the sense to keep his mouth shut about it. Biting a man's face off might earn her a barbarian's respect, but anyone else with any sense in their head would merely be afraid of her if they learned of such a thing.

Rolling up her sleeves, Aruna set her shoulders. “Let's get to work, then. Who is the worst off?” Rhia nodded and led her across the room to a makeshift operating table made of two dining tables pushed together. It was occupied by a young man who was swathed in poorly tied bandages, and seemed to have passed out from the pain. Aruna shook her head pityingly. “He won't live through this,” she said somberly, inspecting the wound under the bandages. He had caught a sword through the middle and the rent it had left had allowed his intestines to begin spilling out. He had lost much blood. “I can't heal this,” Aruna told Rhia despairingly.

“What about that tall man?” Rhia asked.

“Jaknir?” Rhia stared blankly. “The blond muscular one?” The barmaid shook her head.

“Some of these men are talkin' about another man, a tall one who healed a horse earlier. They say he can heal things using magic. Could he do it?”

Aruna shrugged. “Magic makes a lot of things possible that simple medicine is inadequate for, but who knows? Where is he?”

Rhia shook her head. “I dunno. But I can certainly send someone to search fer 'im.”

Ena nodded, assenting, and the barmaid left her to talk to a boy with his arm in a sling standing near a group of men.

Aruna moved on to the next patient. “Tell him to gather some herbs, too, while he's at it, Rhia,” she shouted to the barmaid. “We need comfrey, allium, yarrow, willow bark if there is any. That barbarian out there, Jaknir, he might know what to look for.”

“Got it,” Rhia shouted back, and Aruna turned her attention back to the man in front of her, grimacing in pain from an arrow wound in his thigh. “Miss,” she said, gesturing at a woman who stood nearby. “I need you to go to the kitchen, find a big pot and fill it at the pump out back, then put it over the fire to boil.”

The woman stared at her for a moment. “Now, woman! Go!” Aruna urged her. The woman bustled off to the kitchen. Aruna took a linen napkin that was lying on the table and pressed it against the man's profusely bleeding arrow wound. “Put pressure on it,” she instructed him, and moved on to another patient.

"Alright, take off your bindings, any stitches can stay." The man told Rendahl, nodding Rendahl pulled off the bandages wincing at the pain.

"If you pass out, would you like me to bring you to the inn? Which reminds me, there is a cost. It's a portion of the energy required to heal naturally over time, but all at once. You may feel drowsy, or pass out after the healing is complete. Still interested?" The man asked.

"Of course I am, lets get it over with." Rendah prepared himself for any pain the healing might bring. Nodding the man lifted his hand to cover the stitches on Rendahls stomach, and the light seemed to be sucked into his hands, the area around them darkening. Rendahl closed his eyes, the light emanating from the mans hand being to bright. He could feel an energy pouring over him and being directed from his own body towards the points of his body needing healing. He let out a gasp as it finished. Opening his eyes the man standing before him now seemed completely different, dark skin instead of fair, and black hair instead of blonde. Looking at himself Rendahl could see only slightly healed scratches left on his body. It was done. Who was this man? He was definitely not human.

"We best get back to the Inn." The man huffed, breathless.

"Your right, maybe I should rest a bit before I go and take care of some business." Rendahl began walking back and nearly fell over. They supported each other, arms wrapped around each others shoulders as they walked back to the inn. Rendahl planned on falling asleep on his bed as soon as they arrived and then taking care of Big Ben afterwords.

Slowly, but not warily, a horse that was as black as night approached the tavern, "The King's Demise". Its rider was hidden beneath a long travelling cloak; its hood was pulled over the rider's head and kept their face in shadow. A long bundle strapped to the horse's saddlebags could either be a pair of swords... or something else, perhaps. Then again, with the vaguely-unsettling aura around this person, it seemed likely it could be the former.
David Ryder, known as the Ghost, dismounted Shadowmere as the stricken state of the tavern became apparent. "Stay here." He said softly to the horse, who snickered but didn't move. David, the travelling cloak still covering his outfit and keeping his face in shadow, approached the tavern, and the people in front of it.

(OOC: I'm not going to be able to post for a few days. Feel free to take control of Jaknir if needed.)

"Someone make sure our guest finds his way home safely, these be dangerous woods."
"I thank you for the offer."
These men are of the worst intelligence. Now that they let me free, they have hinted at the fact that they have someone following me. Pfft... Idiots. And they expect me to exude fear, the ignorant fools. And the following person is probably in the trees, wearing some kind of odd camouflage and following me. Bandit types...
Kayben walked away from the rapidly dwindling ring of bandits, going back in the direction of the inn. After a few minutes of walking, he came upon the scene of a burning pyre of some sort. Probably the dead in the skirmish. Eh... The only notable feature, besides the bloodstains and rapidly burning corpses, was the barbarian, chanting some sort of... tribal words. Kayben just continued walking. I shall never understand the odd customs of these savages.

Along his path, was a figure in a cloak. Assassin, or amateur thief. Even though he was a relatively imposing figure, standing some three inches taller than Kayben and armed with a pair of deadly looking katanas, that was no matter. Who was going to do his job but him? Stupid, yes, but necessary. Kayben hands dropped down discreetly near his daggers.
Grinning, Kayben said, "Greetings, my fellow cloaked figure. How goes the day for you? Enjoying the smell of death in this very fine piece of land? I must say, it is very displeasing. An evening stroll, ruined by these vagrants."

When they had finished preparing the funeral pyre and it was burning full blaze Katusa watched as Jaknir sung a song for the dead. The man had a very deep voice and the song seemed to capture his attention. He stood there entranced, the song capturing his emotions and tears began to fall down his face. It was as if every emotion of pain that he had held inside of him was released with those words, disappearing with the wind. When it was finally over Katusa fell onto his rump and leaned back on his arms that were stretched out behind him.

It took him three minutes to pull himself together. "That song touched my soul, but I would ask to never hear it sung around me again. There are things that I need to keep in here, to remind me why I am." Katusa said, pounding his heart when he said here. "This isn't over you know. This group of bandits was only part of the pack. And most likely the small one at that."

David stopped when he was approached and spoken to. The corner of his mouth lifted up as he listened to the male's words.
"Indeed." He replied, voice soft. "There is no finer smell." It was hard to tell if he was joking or not. David whistled softly and Shadowmere clopped over to him. His rider held the reins in his hand and walked over to the tavern proper to have a look.

((Sorry it's so short, life's being really unfair right now what with exams and all.))

Kura waited, but has had enough. What is taking them so long? he thought in fustration. His hands were shaking with impatience. Kura sprang silently up the tree, the puppy growling slightly. He then jumped from tree to tree towards the vllage, wondering what was happening. Once he was near, he spotted ten guards, negotiating and talking with the people. An hour? Talking? Rather they are stalling, or waiting for me...
Kura jumped down from his perch, then strolled into the village, not bothering to hide himself.
"Assassin...finally you have actually bothered to come and visit us. How..."
Kura disappeared. The guard's expression paled. Like an incoming arrow above, Kura impaled his dagger straight into the skull of the commander, then threw the other, knocking back another guard onto the ground in shock. A pair rushed at him, using a cross swing formation. Kura ripped his dagger, then slashed at the pair's windpipes. They dropped.
A huge growling sound came from the bush. He stared in a shocked, yet surprised expression. A familiar looking puppy-wolf was standing there, studying his surroundings. The guards looked horrified, yet the villagers amazed. The beast sprinted with inhuman speed. Mauling all the guards with almighty strength, it was over in just a few minutes.
Kura, eyes wide open, not believing what just happened. The beast, now transformed back into it's puppy-like form, was walking towards Kura. He eyed the creature. Grabbing the pup, he shoved him into the bag.
Villagers then started cheering. Men ripped of their shirts, then replaced them with uniforms. Not uniforms to do with justice, but opposing. Gang uniforms they were wearing, with a werewolf sign on the back.
"Ha ha ha, what a show there. Names Pat. What's yours?"
Kura didn't answer.
"Not a talker huh? Anyways, if those guards caught us, we would have been shoved in the dungeons. Thanks to you and your...puppy, we are saved. Stay with us for a while, just for now. It's the le

...ast we could do." Kura accepted, then followed pat into a hut.

Sorry, it cut off so I added a bit extra.

I looked inside. The small shack was only covering what looked like a a cavern. Lights were lit. Somebody was recently here. It wasn't too far in before I came to a room, there was a fresh wood table, with a note on it. The note was in code. That was the last thing I was to see of my "Normal" life. I blacked out, at least from what I can remember. The rest was a blur, waking up in rooms, what was going on I have no idea. When I finally got a grip to real life, I was in a room, torches around the bed I was lying in. Waking up, I overheard a conversation. "He's waking up!" "Stop whatever you're doing, let me talk to him" "Are you insane? I haven't given him any of t-" "Shut up and let me talk."